BSCE 2020, cum laude, Undergraduate Research Project Title: Quadtree-Based Background Grid Setting for Automated 3D Finite Element Multiresolution Model Generation of High-Rise Reinforced Concrete Dual Systems

Abstract:

With the rapid modernization and urban population growth, high-rise structures are commonly constructed in densely populated areas nowadays. Dual systems are one of the most commonly used lateral load resisting structural systems in mid-to-high rise structures. A dual system is a combination of moment-resisting frames and shear walls or braced frames in which the moment-resisting frames shall be designed to independently resist at least 25% of the design base shear. Shear wall is a type of wall designed to resist lateral forces parallel to the plane of the wall. This study aimed to create a tool that can generate two-dimensional background grids of a dual system that are compatible for 3D modeling by FEM. The study was able to automate the addition of several shear wall   layout configurations to the frame model.  Quadtree was used to locate the smallest elements of the columns and shear walls and to generate background grids that are compatible for 3D modeling by FEM. A modeler code was used to generate 3D finite element multiresolution models of the structure with varying shear wall configurations. In conclusion, this study can be used to generate background grids of any dual system for 3D multiresolution finite element modeling.

Keywords: high-rise, dual system, shear wall, quadtree, FEM